Oregon's Translation Advisory Council (TAC) is reaching out to bridge linguistic gaps in its Voters' Pamphlet services to non-English speakers. With an eye on inclusivity and compliance with Senate Bill 1533, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade is openly seeking additional council members fluent in Farsi, Iu Mien, Khmer, Nepali, Somali, and Traditional Chinese. In a statement obtained by the Oregon Newsroom, the Secretary stressed the importance of ensuring accurate and serve translations for voters.
Interested individuals, aiming to truly represent and serve their communities in the December-initiated roles, can now step forward. To qualify as a member of the TAC, an individual must be an Oregon resident, possess civic service experience, have lived in a community that benefits from translated voters’ pamphlets, and be fluent in English as well as one of the languages recognized by the Council.
As the November elections draw closer, the urgency to incorporate these languages into the TAC becomes more pressing. Language barriers can often equate to barriers to entry when it comes to civic engagement. The goal is a Voting Pamphlet that is accessible, understandable, and as empowering to first language speakers as it is to those fluent in English.
Applications are set to be submitted ahead of the December start date, but no specific deadline seems to have been publicly communicated yet. For those ready to play a pivotal role, details on how to apply can be found on the state's website.
